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Just passed the middle of our beloved month of October, with Halloween quickly approaching. Of course this installment of mini-reviews must be Halloween related, but not in the way you might think. If you've followed me or read this blog for any length of time, you'll know that I like to do things differently, away from the masses. And so it is with this batch of films, which I might add, are not specifically about Halloween, but have the elements within them. Read on...

THE FRIGHTENERS - 1996
Believe it or not, I had never seen this all the way through before now, and if you don't get a Halloween vibe from it, well I can't help you. I love that this is a Peter Jackson film. I love that the role was written for Michael J. Fox with no one else in mind. And I think it's a bittersweet farewell to his leading man film roles.

This film is just fun, and what a delightful surprise to see Dee Wallace, whose character is a fantastic change from her previous "cool Mom" roles. Lots of other cameos and friendly faces here, set in a deliciously Tim Burton-esque landscape. Don't be like me and wait 20 years to enjoy it!

FUN FACT: Danny Elfman loved Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures so much, he agreed to do the soundtrack for The Frighteners without previously viewing any footage, or even knowing what it was about. And of course, it's excellent.

LIGHTNING BUG - 2004
Ok this movie appealed to me for so many reasons. First off, it's based on a true story about a kid who makes monster masks and creatures, which my hubby does, so already I was intrigued. I enjoyed this film so much, I watched it twice in as many days.

Featuring a breakout performance by Ashley Laurence of Hellraiser fame, she is heartbreaking real and raw as the broken down mother. And while Halloween does feature prominently in the film, we are reminded that monsters are real and they most often come in human form.

I found this gem while mindlessly scrolling through one of the streaming services, and it was the movie description that made me hit the play button. Having never heard of it before, it would have been a shame to have missed out on this one completely. And it makes me wonder how many other gems are out there waiting to be unearthed.

LADY IN WHITE - 1988
My love for this film runs deep deep deep. There are precious few movies that have this much heart, and execute it without overdoing it and turning it into some twee mushfest. Likely, you have seen it and know what I'm talking about, but just on the off-chance it has escaped your viewing list AMEND THAT IMMEDIATELY.

I mean the darn thing begins on Halloween day! And, it captures the exact feeling and atmosphere of Halloween in grade school "back in my day" when we were not only allowed but encouraged to wear a costume, bring a pumpkin and/or treats for the class, and enjoy a fun-filled day of spooky stories, craft-making, many treats and at the end of it all, a Halloween--that's HALLOWEEN--not Harvest, Autumn, or Fall--Carnival in the gym after school. Sigh, those were the days...

Do not miss this delightful ghost story, oh and it's family friendly too!

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Ok kids, time to round up yer treat buckets and put the finishing touches on those costumes. I hope you've enjoyed this Halloween edition of Triple Movie Mini-Reviews, and will join me next week for a final (yeah, right) Halloween-entric post...whatever will it be about? Stay tuned!